I was born 21^st March 1952, in Robroyston, Glasgow. My wife MaryAnn and I have 2 daughters, 3 granddaughters and a grandson. I always knew in my heart that God was calling me to serve the Church in some way and, after much discerning on whether or not God was calling me to serve his Church as a deacon, I eventually applied to the Diocese of Motherwell to be admitted to the Permanent Diaconate in 2006.

I entered a one-year Propaedeutic (probationary) programme of which at the end I was accepted by Bishop Joseph Devine as a suitable candidate and began a 4 year course of formation which included being a student of the Maryvale College distance-learning BA course in Applied Theology. I was ordained in my home parish of St Benedict’s, Easterhouse, Glasgow on 13^th September 2012, the feast day of St John Chrysostom and was appointed to minister in the Parish of St Columbkille’s.

The following document is available to download with more information the role of the Deacon within the parish – Role of the Deacon